Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 747,417. PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903.

. W. o. J. GUILFORD.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1901.

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1:10. 747,417. I 4 I PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903 7 W. O. J. GUILFORD.AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1901.

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5x4 @c w U ITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

WILLIAM C. J. GUILFOR D, OF HALLOWELL, MAINE.

ACETYIIENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,417, dated December22, 1903.

Application filed January 12, 1901. Serial No. 42,947. (No model.) 7

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. J. GUIL- FORD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hallowell, in the county of Kennebec and State ofMaine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAcetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of gener-,

ators in which calcium carbid is dropped into water. When in the use ofsuch generators many grains of carbid fall close together,

heat accumulates and the carbid is imperof the joints caused by thecorrosive action of the fluid in the generator.

The object of my invention is to provide a generating apparatus whichshall respond to slight changes of volume in the gas, sifting out asmall and gradually-increasing quantity of carbid, and shall remainequally sensitive in its action after long continued use,

which shall be, furthermore, less liable to troublesome and dangerousaccidents when neglected or carelessly handled.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation. Fig. 2is a sectional detail drawing, showing the carbid-feed mechanism. Fig. 3is an elevation drawn to a smaller scale, which shows both the generatorand the gas-holder. Fig. 4 shows a stop which limits the action of thegas-holder on the carbid feed, and Fig. 5 a releasing-catch for the feedstop-motion.

In the drawings, A is the base, which supports all the working parts ofthe generator. This base A also serves as a cover for the water-holderT, in whichthe carbid is decomposed and the acetylene formed. The factthat the working of my device is expected toremain accurately the samethrough all the accidents ofuse makes necessary a heavier and more rigidconstruction of the framework than is usual in apparatus of this sort;but

by attaching all the working parts of. my device to the upper and underside of the heavy cast-iron plate A, I relieve the sides and bottom ofthe water-holder T from the working strain, and thus take away allnecessity for heavier construction than is necessary to support thesuperimposed weight.

The carbid-holder 0 screws into a hole in the thickened central part ofthe base-plate A. The lower part of the holder 0 has the shape of aconical hopper or funnel, terminating in a circular outlet O. The innersurface of the holder 0 turns back at an angle at the outlet 0. Thisangle should be made as acute as it can safely be made in cast-iron, so1 as to leave as small a surface as possible for the adherence of carbidresidue.

The outlet 0 is closed by the hollow cylindrical stopper S, which isguided to enter the outlet 0 by the tubular standard P, on which .itslides. The diameter of the stopper .8 should be enough smaller thanthat of the outlet 0 to insure its entering without hitting; but theclearance between must not be large enough'to permit a noticeable amountof carbid to sift out. The upper end of S is made sharply conical, sothat the carbid will not rest on it, and terminates in the clearer 15,from which project two clearer-arms w w. The clearer t with its arms wware intended to break through and pull down any bridge of carbid thathas formed over the outlet, and it is obvious that they may be varied inform and proportionsthrough a wide range without impairing theirusefulness as clearers.

,The stopper S is raised into place by the lifting-rod R, which isconnected with it by the pin m passing through the slot "n; in thetubular standard P. l

The lower end of the rod R is pivoted to the shorter arm of the lever L,and the rod B, carrying the weight W, is pivoted to the longer arm. Thelever L is inclosed in the case K, which is made from a single-coredcasting.

V The lever L is pivoted on the pin 10, which passes through the sidesof the case K and is inserted in K through an aperture closed by thescrew-plug k.

The tube H, inclosing the weight W, screws into a threaded hole in theupper surface of the case K and passing through a hole in the base-plateA is adjusted and held in place by the nuts M N above and below theplate A, which screw against gas-tight packing. The tubular standard Pscrews into the other end of the case K and isheld in place by the yokeY, through which it passes and into which it screws.

The case K and the yoke Y are clamped together by bolts or screws, as V.The yoke Y is bolted to the under surface of the plate A and isadjustable to permitof bringing the stopper S accurately in line withthe outlet 0.

The carbid-holder C is closed at top by a screw-cap c, which screwsagainstapacking.

The tubular standard P, lever-case K, and tube h when joined togetherare water-tight and protect theiuclosed mechanism from the adhesive andcorrosive carbid residue. They form an inverted siphon when partlyfilled with liquid, which is preferably a non-corrosive lubricant,andshould rise to a sufficient height to act as a liquid seal under thepressure used.

The weight W should be sulficient to produce a pressure that will crushany grain of carbid that happens to be caught between the corner of thestopper S and the acute edge of the outlet 0.

To the upper end of the rod B is pivoted the releasing-hook d. This hookshould be bent to an arc of a radius slightly less than its distancefrom the pivot on which it turns, and it hooks over a roller 0, which isattached by a chain a to the gas-bell G. When the gas-bell G sinksbelowapredetermined point, the hook of strikes the roller 0 which pullsit off from 0, thereby releasing B from the pull of the chain a andpermitting the weight W to raise the stopper S into the outlet 0. Theupward motion of S is limited by the striking of the rod B against thebottom of K, which in this case acts as a stop-motion; but when thestopper S rises into the outlet 0 from the upward movement of thegas-bell its motion islimited by the striking of the cross-piece q,attached to the chain (1, against the forkf. This permits the weight Wto hold the chain a taut and prevents the hook d from loosening.

In the generators in common use there is considerable leakage of impuregas of objectionable odor from the water-charging funnels. I avoid thegreater part of this leakage by the use of the charging-tube H, which iscurved up at its lower end to form a trap and is protected from theentrance of undecomposed carbid by the roof-shaped cover '0', attachedto the side of the water-holder T.

Another trouble with water-charging funnels is the accidental overflowwhich is sometimes caused by the accumulation of carbid residue and byirregular action. To avoid this, I attach a. waste-pipe P at a pointcorresponding to the gas-pressure used.

WhenI wish to make use of my invention, I place a charge of carbid inthe carbid-holder C, fill the water-holder T to the height shown,

seal the gas-bell G with water in the usual manner, and pour into theinverted siphon H K P a sufficient amount of non-corrosive lubricant toact as a liquid seal against the pressure of gas desired. I then bylifting the rod B a very little shake down a small amount of carbid,which is decomposed by the water. As soon as the resulting gas haslifted the gas-bell G to a sufiicient height I hook the rod B to thechain a. If the lights are now turned on, the gas-bell G will fall, andas soon as the chain a is drawn taut it will begin to lift the weight Wand lower the stopper S. At the slightest motion a small amount ofcarbid, which is caught between the sharp edge of the outlet 0 and theupper edge of the stopper S, will sift out, and the resulting gas willlift the bell G and replace the stopper S if the gas exceeds the amountbeing consumed. If it does not equal the amount, the stopper S willcontinue to move downward until sufficient gas is generated to raise thebell G and the stopper S, the clearer t and clearer-arms w stirring thecarbid and leaving itso placed that it will siftouton the firstreturning downward motion. If the generation of the gas exceeds thedemand, the gasbell G will continue to rise after the stopper S hasclosed the outlet 0, the cross-piece q will strike against the fork f,and the part of the chain a near the generator will be held taut by theweight W.

As a result of the construction hereinbefore specified the motion of thestopper will always respond to slight changes in the volume of gas andwill rarely carry the gas-bell G much above the stopperclosing point.

When the supply of carbid is exhausted, thev falling bell G will liftthe rod B until the hook d strikes the roller 0 and is pulled ofif fromthe roller 0, when the weight W falls and raises the stopper S into theoutlet 0. A leakage of gas which is greater than the generator cansupply will bring about the same result, and it is obvious that if it isat any time desirable to put the generator out of act-ion withoutwaiting for it to stop automatically the releasing-hook d can be trippedby hand.

Having now fully described my invention and the manner of usingit, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a carbid-holderwhich has a funnel-shaped bottom terminating in a sharpedged outlet, apointed stopper which enters the outlet from below and is separated fromits edges by an annular opening that is bridged by the grains of carbidused, a guide for the pointed stopper which holds it free from contactwith the outletedge,aweight and a mechanical connection between theweight and the stopper which transmits to the stopper an upward motioninto the outlet; all as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carbidholder having a funnel-shapedbottom termimating in a sharp-edged outlet, a stopper which enters thecarbid-holder from below and is separated from the edges of the outletby an annular openingthat is bridged by the grains of carbid used, avertical guide which holds the stopper free from contact \viththecarbid-holder, a rising and falling gas-bell, speed reducing mechanisminterposed between the gas-bell and the stopper, and a stop which limitsthe upward motion of the stopper to the point at which it closes theoutlet, all combined with each other substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator the combination of a carbid-holderhaving a funnelshaped bottom terminating in a circular outlet, ahollowcylindrical stopper smaller than the outlet, a vertical tube concentricwith the circular outlet and corresponding in size with the interior ofthe hollow stopper which slides thereon and is guided thereby, alifting-rod for the stopper which is inclosed by the tube, a pin passingthrough slots in the tube and connecting the stopper with thelifting-rod, means of imparting motion to the lifting-rod correspondingin direction with that of the gas-holder and a stop which prevents thelifting-rod from lifting the stopper higher than necessary to close theoutlet; all as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an acetylene-gas generator a carbidholder having an opening at itslowest point, a hollow stopper which moves freely into the opening, avertical guide-tube on which the stopper slides, a lifting-rod for thestopper, a lever to which the lower end of the liftingrod is attached, aweight acting on the lever to lift the stopper and a stop which limitsthe downward motion of the weight and frees the lever from its action;all combined with each other as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an acetylene'gas generator, a carbidholder, an outlet at thebottom of the carbidholder which has a sharp edge formed by the meetingof two conical surfaces, .a stopper which rises into the outlet frombelow until its upper edge is opposite the sharp edge of the outlet, andis separated therefrom by an annular opening which is bridged by thegrains of carbid used, a guide which insures that the stopper shallenter the outlet without striking its edge, a weight, a stop limitingthe motion of the weight, a gas-bell, and intermediate mechanismconnecting the gasbell, theweight, and the stopper, whereby the weightacts to producea lifting strain on both the gas-bell and the stopper;all combined with each other as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an acetylene-generator a water-holder, a carbid-holder whichrests. upon the top of the water-holder and has an outlet at its lowestpoint, a stopper which rises to close the outlet, a lifting-rod whichraises the stopper into place, a guide-tube which incloses thelifting-rod and controls the motion of the stopper, a yoke suspendedfrom the under side of the top plate of the water-holder, through whichthe lower end of the guidetube passes and by which it is held in linewith the carbid-holder outlet, a horizontal lever connected with thelifting-rod at one end and with asecond vertical rod at the other, atube inclosing the second rod and passingthrough the top plate of thewaterholder, a chamber which incloses and supports the horizontal leverand is connected with both vertical tubes by a water-tight joint all incombination with each other and with a sufficient amount of inclosednon-corrosive fluid to form a seal against the escape of gassubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

"7. In an acetylene-gas generator, a waterholder a cover therefor, acarbid-holder, an opening in the water-holder cover to which thecarbid-holder isfitted, a supporting-yoke which is fastened to the underside of the cover at each side of the opening for the carbid-holder andprojects therefrom, an outlet to the carbid-holder, a stopper which isof less diameter than the outlet and rises into it, a guide for thestopper, and a socket in the yoke to which the guide is fitted and bywhich it is held in line with the out-let; all combined with each othersubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carbidholder having an outlet at itslowest point, a stopper rising into this outlet, a lifting-lever, a rodconnecting the stopper to the short arm of the lifting-lever, a weightedrod attached to the other arm of the lifting-lever and rising throughthe cover of the generator, a gasbell, a releasing-hook, attached to theupper end of the weighted rod, and a mechanical connection between thegas-hell and the releasing-hook, through which the weight of thegas-bell acts to lift the weighted rod, all in combination with eachother substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a carbid-holder anoutlet in the bottomv of the carbid-holder, a stopper-rising intotheoutlet, a lifting-rod for the stopper, a lever by which thelifting-rod is raised, a lever-actuating weight, a lifting-rod for theweight, a releasing-hook pivoted to the upper end of the lifting-rod, agas-bell, a chain attached to the gas-bell at one end and to thereleasing-hook at the other, a pair of guidepulleys overwhich the chainruns, and a stop which pulls the releasing-hook from the chain, allsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. .In an acetylene-gas generator, a gasbell, a chain attached to thetop of the gasbell which is separable into two parts, a hook connectingthe two parts of the chain, a weight suspended from the other end of thechain, a carbid-holder, an outlet in the bottom of the carbid-holder, astopper rising into the outlet, connecting mechanism which converts thedownward motion of the weight into an upward motion of the stopper, acatch In testimony whereof I have signed my upon the chain, between thehook and the name to this specification in the presence of gas-bell anda stop against which the catch two subscribing Witnesses. strikes, andby which the part of the chain WILLIAM C. J. GUILFORD. between the catchand the weight is held ,Witnesses:

ALMON ROBINSON, MARGURET N. GUILFORD.

taut; all combined with each other substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

